Cooperative Living September 2017 - 22

HealthyTake
Celebrate Healthy Aging
Healthy
D
o you know people who look years
younger than their actual age?
While our genes and the traits we
inherit play a big role in our health, as
well as how long we live, everyone has the
potential to improve personal habits and
quality of life. September is Healthy Aging®
Month, so take a few minutes to consider
how well you are following these five ways
to age more healthfully.
EAT A NUTRITIOUS - AND
BALANCED - DIET
What you eat can greatly influence how
healthy you stay as the years go by. Of
course, you should include the gold
standards of low-fat protein and dairy, whole
grains and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
And everyone knows the importance of
limiting processed foods and those high in
sugar and fat, with cookies, soda and chips
being prime examples. These foods have
been linked to serious health problems like
heart disease and diabetes.
The trick is to find the right balance of
energy and nutrients. As you age, your body
needs less energy, but it also needs good
nutrients. That means you need to become
even more careful to avoid foods high in
empty calories and fat, especially trans fats,
which are common in processed foods,
margarine and shortenings.
Also try to get some extra fiber into
your diet, which is very important for
older adults. It can lower your risk of heart
disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer and keep
your colon working the way it should. Some
easy ways to boost fiber in your diet are
switching to whole-grain cereals and breads,
eating popcorn instead of potato chips or
adding a fiber supplement to your diet.
STAY ACTIVE AND FIT
Not finding time to fit exercise into
your schedule is a sure-fire way to risk
health problems as you get older. Regular
workouts can reduce your risk for heart
disease, diabetes, arthritis pain and even
anxiety and depression. Whatever physical
activity you choose, whether it's bicycling,
yoga, swimming or strength training, try
to stick with it all year-round and try
20 | Cooperative Living | September 2017
Aging®
Month
Take a few minutes to consider how well you are following these five ways to age more healthfully.
to incorporate these elements into
your workouts:
* Aerobic exercises that get your heart
pumping (such as walking or biking);
* Strength exercises to prevent muscle
loss, which can happen with age;
* Stretching workouts to keep your body
flexible and limber;
* Balance exercises that will help prevent
falls as you get older.
STOP SMOKING
Most everyone knows that smoking is
harmful to our bodies. If you want to stay
healthy as you age, it's crucial that you
stop as soon as possible. According to the
National Institutes of Health, smoking
harms nearly every organ of the body
and leads to lung cancer, lung disease,
heart and blood vessel disease, stroke and
cataracts. And if you want to look your
best as you age, consider that smoking
causes wrinkles and speeds up the aging
of your skin.
GET ENOUGH SLEEP
It is a myth that as we get older, we need
less sleep. However, thanks to everything
from hormonal shifts to increases in stress,
most people over 40 aren't getting close to
the prescribed seven or eight hours of
uninterrupted sleep a night they need for
good health. Moreover, chronic
sleeplessness can lead to health issues
including depression and certain types of
diseases. If sleep is a challenge, consult a
sleep expert or try making simple changes
such as turning off electronic devices at
least an hour before bed, taking a hot bath
or shower and creating a relaxing
environment in the bedroom.
GET REGULAR CHECKUPS
One of the best ways to stop health
problems is to catch them before they
start, or at least in the early stages. Getting
regular checkups is the best way to spot
health problems and disease so that your
chances of a cure and recovery are much
greater. Your doctor will look at your age,
family history, personal medical history
and your lifestyle habits (such as your diet
and how much you exercise) to decide
what tests and screenings you will need.
With age comes wisdom, as well as
wrinkles and hair loss. Rather then
fighting the inevitable through plastic
surgery, over exercise, expensive anti-aging
products and unhealthy diets, a certain
degree of acceptance is also a key to aging
happily and healthfully. Improving one's
lifestyle through diet, sleep and physical
activity may help us keep what we have
as long as we can. As an anonymous quote
states, " Youth is an act of nature; age is
a work of art. " 
Source: www.activebeat.com
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Cooperative Living September 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living September 2017